Drummer Joey Jordison talked about the very beginnings of Slipknot, explaining to Loudwire(transcribed by UG):
“It wasn’t my total idea to call the band Slipknot, it was a band conversation, a unified thing.
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“I did suggest it, and it was a conversation between me and Shawn Crahan [Clown].
“We were originally called the Pale Ones and then we were called Meld.
“Neither of those names was really working, so we kind of just called a band meeting – it was just a suggestion.
“Without Shawn Crahan’s input – ’cause we were together all the time, late-night TV watching, listening to music – I have to credit him as well.”
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The name Pale Ones came to be in September 1995, while Meld was used during Slipknot’s live debut on a December 4, 1995 benefit show. Apart from Joey and Clown, the band’s lineup at the time featured late Paul Gray, singer Anders Colsefni, guitarist Josh Brainard, and second guitarist Donnie Steele.
By the end of 1995, the boys settled on Slipknot, and the rest is history.